Low cost and efficient energy storage concepts for power plants using pulsed fusion reactors

Three new energy storage concepts are introduced which are particularly suitable for delivering steady power from cyclic power sources, and specially from pulsed fusion reactors. These are: (1) PCM: Primary Coolant Mixing, (2) DCS: Diverted Coolant Storage, and (3) DCRS: Diverted Coolant Reversible Storage. The PCM concept is suitable for both compressible and incompressible primary coolants. The DCS and DCRS concepts are suitable for incompressible and compressible coolants, respectively. The PCM mixes the primary coolant over one cycle time or for a large multiple of the downtime. On the other hand, DCS and DCRS store only enough primary coolant at the exit temperature to supply the BOP during the downtime. In DCRS, large pumping power is avoided by making the storage chambers into large cylinders and charging and discharging them with the primary coolant reversibly against nearly equal back pressures of steam bled from the steam turbines. These energy storage concepts have close to 100% turnaround efficiency, and they are expected to be much cheaper compared with other options.